Issue - meetings

1.         That the proposals for Directorates’ contributions to deliver the Corporate Strategy  2014-19, as set out in Annex 1of the submitted report, be approved.

2.         That the detailed service revenue and capital budgets for the years 2014/15 and indicative budgets for 2015-19, including amendments resulting from the Final Local Government Financial Settlement and other Government funding changes announced after the 2014/15 budget was approved in February 2014, as set out in Annex 2 of the submitted report, be approved.

3.         That the publication of the service revenue and capital budgets as the 2014-19 Medium Term Financial Plan be approved.

4.         That the fees & charges approved under delegated powers be endorsed and  other fee and charge proposals, as set out in Annex 3 of the submitted report, be approved.

5.         That the work underway to secure the savings allocated to Adults Social Care in each year of the MTFP period, as set out in paragraph 9 of the submitted report, be noted.

6.         That the requirement to re-profile the Adult Social Care savings across the period, as set out in paragraph 9 of the submitted report, be noted and the use of unused provisions and reserves to support that requirement be approved:

·           the reduction of the council’s potential loss on its investment in two Icelandic banks, leads to a reduction in the required reserve of £1.0m (paragraph 12 of the submitted report)

·           the settling of the council’s Mutual Municipal Insurance liability in late February 2014 leads to the release of £3.3m from the Insurance Reserve (paragraph 13 of the submitted report)

·           the use of £5.4m from the Budget Equalisation Reserve (paragraph 14 of the submitted report)

·           the use of  £4.3m from the Economic Downturn Reserve (paragraph 14 of the submitted report)

7.         That a report be received in July 2014 on the detailed savings programme following a further review by the Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer.

8.       That the Council will develop proposals to respond to damage to roads caused by flooding up to £10m, and that it is not the intention that this impacts on Project Horizon and also that it be noted that some funding is being made available from Central Government with any shortfall to be met by adjustments to the capital programme, and:

9.       That a report be received in July 2014 on the impact of the severe weather on services work programmes and the council’s revenue and capital budgets.

10.     That the Leadership Risk Register, as set out in Annex 4 of the submitted report, be noted.

11.     That the Equality Impact Assessment of the savings proposals within the Directorate and service budgets, as set out in Annex 5 of the submitted report, be noted

Reasons for Decisions:

The 2014–19 MTFP is a five year budget that is aligned to the corporate strategy. It reflects assumptions about the current local and national financial, economic and political environment. Regular reporting through the year will enable progress to be effectively tracked and managed.

The Corporate Strategy 2014-19  ...  view the full decision text for item 59

The council set its budget envelope and council tax precept for the 2014/15 financial year at the County Council meeting on 11 February 2014. At the same time, the Council also refreshed its Corporate Strategy 2014-19. Concurrently, the Council also approved indicative budgets for the following four years, 2015/16 to 2018/19. This report now presented the detailed service revenue and capital budgets for 2014/15 and indicative budgets for the following four year period.

The Leader referred to the report and the attached Annexes:

Annex 1 – Directorate Priorities

Annex 2 – Detailed Service Revenue and Capital Budgets

Annex 3 – Fees and Charges Schedules 2014/15

Annex 4 – Leadership Risk Register

Annex 5 – Equality Impact Assessments

He proposed that each Cabinet Member would speak on their portfolio. He said that he was satisfied with the report and pleased with the input from the select committees. He referred to the recommendations from the Communities Select Committee relating to the proposed direction of travel for Surrey Fire and Rescue, which were tabled at the meeting (attached as Appendix 2 to these minutes).

He also highlighted two other tabled documents: Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) corrections (attached as Appendix 3 to these minutes) and revised recommendations – to include a new recommendation (8), with subsequent recommendations renumbered, which was:

‘ That the Council will develop proposals to respond to damage to roads caused by flooding up to £10m, and that it is not the intention that this impacts on Project Horizon and also that it be noted that some funding is being made available from Central Government with any shortfall to be met by adjustments to the capital programme, and:’

Key points made by Cabinet Members / Cabinet Associate Members were as follows:

Adult Social Care

·         The Directorate had achieved significant savings in recent years

·         There was a very stretching target of £46m for this current year and it was hoped that £31m savings would be achieved by year end

·         There had been a detailed examination of the Friends, Family and Community Programme and strategies and processes were now in place to deliver savings from the programme in 2014/15 of £10m

·          Reference to recommendation (6) and the requirement to re-profile the Adult Social Care savings across the 5 year period

·         Note that the efficiencies risk analysis illustrates that the ‘red’ risks would be substantially less in 2014/15 but would increase in 2015/16

Children, Schools and Families

·         The proposed budget for 2014/15 is £334m, an overall increase of £9m

·         There were planned savings of £9.1m for 2014/15

·         The Directorate had established a Public Value programme to research and identify efficiency savings

·         Strengthening preventative work was crucial to making Directorate savings

·         The funding for the Special Education High Needs Block had not included growth to meet increased demand

·         Explanation of the reduction to the Dedicated Schools Grant

Customers and Communities

·         Budget pressures of £6m over this five year planning period

·         Surrey Fire and Rescue were continuing to implement the Public  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59